Fatah leader hails Egyptian efforts in reconciliation

CAIRO – 15 October 2017: The Secretary-General of Fatah in Lebanon, Fathi Abu Ardat, hailed on Sunday Egypt’s mediation efforts in concluding the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

Abu Ardat also stated that “President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi played the most important role in sponsoring the Palestinian reconciliation."

"Reconciliation is considered an important step in the history of the Palestinian people that will establish a genuine national cooperation among all Palestinian factions," Abu Ardat added.

He considered that national reconciliation and Palestinian national unity will be the main impetus for restoring the Palestinian cause to its natural state, as a national issue for all Palestinian people.

He continued to call for unifying all Palestinian efforts and energies in the face of the Israeli occupation; expressing his hope that the positive aspects of the reconciliation will be reflected on all Palestinian issues.

Earlier, Abbas extended the Palestinian people’s appreciation to President Sisi for his administration’s efforts in signing the reconciliation agreement in Cairo, according to the Palestine News Agency (WAFA).

“What was agreed upon strengthens and accelerates the steps to end the division and restore the unity of the Palestinian people, land and institutions,” said Abbas.

The two main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, signed an Egypt-brokered reconciliation deal in Cairo, in a key step towards ending a decade-long rift between the two movements.

The deal will see administrative control of the Gaza Strip handed to a Fatah-backed unity government.